CTEK MXS 5.0 - is there a best practice method?
Discussion
I've had this trickle charger for a while now and it has been excellent, fully lives up to its reviews.
My method of charging has typically been to plug the charger in after the car hasn't been used for a few weeks i.e. when the battery is a bit low, let it charge fully (couple of days), then unplug. If the car isn't to be used for a few months, I'll typically repeat this process - so let the battery lose charge, charge up, unplug charger. Repeat.
My thinking behind this is a) the battery actually has chance to lose charge and regain it again and b) the charger isn't plugged in and on for months at a time.
Is this an ok method to use, or is this damaging the battery in the long run? CTEK have said that it's no issue leaving the charger connected and on for months but seems like a waste of electricity?
Curious to know what approach you guys take when your pride and joy's are garaged for long periods, and whether either of the above methods are fine.
Cheers
My method of charging has typically been to plug the charger in after the car hasn't been used for a few weeks i.e. when the battery is a bit low, let it charge fully (couple of days), then unplug. If the car isn't to be used for a few months, I'll typically repeat this process - so let the battery lose charge, charge up, unplug charger. Repeat.
My thinking behind this is a) the battery actually has chance to lose charge and regain it again and b) the charger isn't plugged in and on for months at a time.
Is this an ok method to use, or is this damaging the battery in the long run? CTEK have said that it's no issue leaving the charger connected and on for months but seems like a waste of electricity?
Curious to know what approach you guys take when your pride and joy's are garaged for long periods, and whether either of the above methods are fine.
Cheers
I leave mine connected.
Was connected for four months when I worked abroad.
I can’t really see now it is a waste of electricity as once the battery is charged the Ctek will only put out what the battery has lost, makes no difference if it is trickle charge over a long period or a big charge once every month.
I suppose the Ctek itself uses electricity to monitor the battery but that must be negligible.
Was connected for four months when I worked abroad.
I can’t really see now it is a waste of electricity as once the battery is charged the Ctek will only put out what the battery has lost, makes no difference if it is trickle charge over a long period or a big charge once every month.
I suppose the Ctek itself uses electricity to monitor the battery but that must be negligible.
I'm not aware of any benefits to letting a lead acid battery discharge (unlike Lithium). even a 10 day airport stay is ageing a battery.
There have been stories of maintainers/batteries "losing the plot" when connected permanently. I've no experience of this, but I put mine on a timer for a few hours each day. there's no downsides as this is enough to fully charge up to maintain mode and the battery never discharges.
There have been stories of maintainers/batteries "losing the plot" when connected permanently. I've no experience of this, but I put mine on a timer for a few hours each day. there's no downsides as this is enough to fully charge up to maintain mode and the battery never discharges.
I think what you are doing is unnecessary and may be damaging the battery in the long-term.
I say this because:
1. Step 8 in the CTEK charging is pulse charging which shuts off the charging after 10 days of float charging in step 7 and only restarts it when the battery voltage has dropped sufficiently. So it does what you are trying to do automatically. See page 5 of https://www.ctek.com/storage/5F698282EF11914E368EC...
2. Every time you switch the charger back on it will go through the 10 days of float charging and I gather that one of the main points of a CTEK is to avoid having the battery on float charge for extended periods as that can reduce battery life.
I say this because:
1. Step 8 in the CTEK charging is pulse charging which shuts off the charging after 10 days of float charging in step 7 and only restarts it when the battery voltage has dropped sufficiently. So it does what you are trying to do automatically. See page 5 of https://www.ctek.com/storage/5F698282EF11914E368EC...
2. Every time you switch the charger back on it will go through the 10 days of float charging and I gather that one of the main points of a CTEK is to avoid having the battery on float charge for extended periods as that can reduce battery life.
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